Unit name | The Psychology of Individual Differences. |
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Unit code | EDUCM5410 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | M/7 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2D (weeks 19 - 24) |
Unit director | Dr. Eagle |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | School of Education |
Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit enables students to examine research on the psychology of individual differences, and consider how the study of individual differences can contribute to our thinking in education. The unit will cover main approaches to studying a range of individual differences, such as: intelligence; personality; motivation and aspiration; emotion; psychological abnormality and psychopathology; and essentialist theories about social categories. The influence of genetic, environmental, developmental, and cultural factors on individual differences will be considered. The unit will consider ways in which individual differences develop over time and situations, and the extent to which they are fixed or malleable. Sessions will investigate the relationships between individual differences and social/educational inclusion/exclusion. In the unit students will debate and critique research design and data collection methods (including ethical issues) used in research on individual differences, to help them assess how research can inform educational and social policy and practice. They will apply theory to data analysis of existing qualitative survey data, to help them critique both theory and research design.
Students will demonstrate that they:
This unit will be taught using a blended approach consisting of a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous activities including seminars, lectures, reading and discussions
A critical review of a journal article of 2000 words, chosen from a list of four articles. This review should show critical reflection of the source paper and also evidence wider reading as appropriate. The assignment needs 1) to demonstrate that you can discuss the paper intelligently and critically: and 2) to demonstrate that you can use evidence to inform your interpretation of the paper.